University of Lapland

An increased movement towards developing digital fundamental rights can be observed. This includes a call for amplified autonomy of online users. This chapter defines the right to autonomy in the digital environment and assesses different dimensions of autonomy as a concept. This is done by identifying these dimensions in the Digital Markets Act (hereinafter DMA) the sectoral regulation of large online platforms that has recently entered the EU scene. The chapter identifies two dimensions of autonomy in the DMA: self-empowering as to data gathering and autonomy as being free from manipulation. The chapter also offers some recommendations as to how to tackle autonomy in a digital environment.

Whilst hydrogen as a substance is not new, the recent surge in interest around hydrogen is prompting new regulatory frameworks and hydrogen strategies to support the uptake of the hydrogen economy. The potential of hydrogen to facilitate the decarbonisation of especially hard‐to‐abate sectors is immense, and various jurisdictions are actively creating regulatory frameworks for hydrogen investments, particularly in their green, clean or low‐carbon forms. This is crucial because hydrogen's environmental impact depends on its production methods. This article explores the United States (US) and the European Union (EU) approaches in implementing measures to support the uptake of hydrogen market. More specifically, it seeks to identify the main similarities and differences of the forerunner jurisdictions' adopted policies. The article focusses on the recent measures proposed or adopted by both jurisdictions, suggesting that their leading positions are becoming more aligned.

Herbivores drive shifts in plant species composition by interacting with vegetation through defoliation, trampling and nutrient addition: urine and faeces. As herbivore effects on vegetation accumulate over time, they might spillover to other trophic levels, but how and when this happens is poorly understood. Since it is methodologically demanding to measure biodiversity across spatial gradients, an alternative approach is to assess it through biodiversity indices of vascular plants. We employed the Index of biodiversity relevance developed for Swedish flora which provides an estimated number of organisms associated with a plant species, allowing the quantification of trophic community size. Values from this index were coupled with vegetation data from a network of 96 fenced and paired grazed plots across Fennoscandia. We analysed the role herbivory has on plant richness and diversity, and on the number of organisms that interact with the vegetation according to the index values. We also explored how herbivores influence the competitive effects of tall shrubs on other plants since the dominance of a vegetation type links directly to biodiversity. Plant diversity had no clear response to grazing. Overall vegetation and the vegetation subgroups herbs and non‐fruit shrubs had higher biodiversity index values in fenced plots, indicating a higher number of plant–host interactions. Herb cover was negatively related to shrubs in both treatments but with a faster decline in the absence of herbivores. This study highlights the importance of maintaining herbivore populations in the Arctic to conserve the vegetation structure and biodiversity of the tundra. This method of coupling biodiversity indexes with vegetation data provides complementary information to the plant diversity, especially when methodological or time constraints prevent complete field inventories.

This paper presents a novel approach to youth mental health by examining the connections between young Finnish men’s mental health, ideals of masculinity, and public discourses of mental health. Drawing from critical sociological and feminist theories on gender, power, and therapeutic culture, we apply a thematic discursive analysis to a questionnaire data (n = 910) about men’s mental health targeted at young men (primarily aged 15-29). The findings illustrate how young Finnish men consider ‘traditional’ ideals of masculinity widespread in Finland, restricting the actions of men, and upheld by narrow representations of gender. In addition, young men display critical reactions to the public discourses of mental health, especially the ones they feel are repeated in the media. These discourses are seen as insufficient and too individualised, echoing therapeutic culture. Based on our results, we argue that the highly individualised and gendered discourses of mental health, deriving from therapeutic culture and rooted in Finnish cultural and institutional practices, are inadequate for supporting young men’s mental health. Instead, these practices can create a vicious cycle where the often-wellintended efforts can limit and guide young men towards restricted gendered possibilities to express themselves, talk about mental health, and seek support if needed.

The western region of the wide Thwaites Glacier terminus is characterized by a near‐vertical calving front. The grounding line at this western calving front (WCF) rests on a relatively high ridge, behind which exists a reverse‐sloping bed; retreat of the grounding line into this over‐deepening basin could therefore expose deep calving faces that may be subject to ice‐cliff failure. Here, we use the 3D Helsinki Discrete Element Model to identify the factors that control the calving dynamics in this location. We then focus on the ability of mélange to influence these dynamics given the wide embayment in which Thwaites Glacier terminates. We find that calving along the WCF is currently influenced by ice flow across the grounding line and consequent longitudinal tensile stress and rift formation. Calving is slowed in simulations that are initiated with a highly constricted mélange, with a thicker mélange suppressing calving entirely. We liken the constrained simulations to a scenario in which mélange piles behind a large grounded iceberg. In a future which may see calving become a more dominant control on the retreat of Thwaites Glacier, this type of blockage will be necessary for robust force chains to develop and transmit resistive forces to the terminus. The ability of the mélange to hinder calving at this location will be determined by the presence and rigidity of binding land‐fast sea ice and iceberg keel depths. Therefore, it is necessary to represent calving, mélange and sea ice in a single framework to predict the fate of Thwaites Glacier.

Milk oligosaccharides are complex carbohydrates composed of various monosaccharide units linked together by glycosidic bonds. They play an essential role in promoting gut health by fostering beneficial bacteria, supporting the development of the immune system, and protecting against infections and diseases. This work compared the oligosaccharide profiles in widely utilized breeds such as Holstein and Ayrshire (Nordic Red), with the native Northern Finncattle, which is considered an endangered breed. Oligosaccharides were extracted from milk and analyzed by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. The composition and relative abundance of the identified oligosaccharides were characterized and compared. The statistical analyses showed that neutral, sialylated, and fucosylated oligosaccharides vary among the breeds. Ayrshire and Northern Finncattle oligosaccharides formed a cluster, while Holstein’s profile shared features with both Ayrshire and Northern Finncattle. Holstein had the lowest abundance of fucosylated OS among the three breeds, with Ayrshire having the highest content followed by Northern Finncattle. The relatively higher sialylated over neutral content of Northern Finncattle is an important feature that should be preserved. Ayrshire is a good candidate to recover more diverse oligosaccharides with potential gut health implications for consumers.

When thick wet snow covers unfrozen ground at the beginning of winter, herders fear the development of a hard, icy bottom snow layer and the appearance of noxious moulds (microfungi) in semi-domesticated reindeer pastures. Such winter onsets were experienced in 2019 and 2021 in the reindeer herding area of Finland, after which significant reindeer losses, along with collapses in calf production and slaughter animals, were encountered. We studied the development of weather and snow conditions in the late autumn and early winter of 2021–2022 and measured snow conditions in March 2022 in 11 reindeer cooperatives. We also collected samples from reindeer winter forage plants for mycotoxin analysis. We found that the weather and snow conditions during the late autumn and early winter of 2021 caused the formation of a hard, icy bottom snow layer and the development of mycotoxins in pastures. Alternariol (AOH) and alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), produced by Alternaria spp., were found in all 33 samples (104–2562, 61–808 µg/kg DM) and zearalenone (ZEN) by Fusarium spp. in 16 samples (14–206 µg/kg). Certain significant correlations in the concentrations of mycotoxins with snow conditions and ground surface temperatures were found. We assume that besides difficult grazing conditions in the winters of 2019–2020 and 2021–2022, the presence of mycotoxins in pastures has contributed to reindeer losses and reduced the body condition, health, and reproduction of reindeer. As onsets of winters become warmer and rainier, the risk of similar pasture conditions in reindeer herding may increase.

This paper explores collaborative workshops conducted at the International Socially Engaged Art Symposium (ISEAS), concentrating on the convergence of art and science in the realm of food values and ethics. With 20 artists and scientists participating, ISEAS employed arts-based methods to investigate food-related themes within diverse communities. One team, comprising three artists and a food ethics researcher, collaborated with 17 secondary school students in Seinäjoki (Finland). Their three-day event utilised various arts-based methods to address food ethics issues, such as availability, equity, sustainability, norms, and food justice. Integrating scientific and artistic knowledge, the study showcases the effectiveness of conversational art-making, revealing the role of art and science in fostering awareness of ethical dimensions in food production and consumption. The study highlights the potential of conversational art as a potent tool in community projects, as it facilitates dialogue on challenging topics beyond verbal communication. The paper underscores how art and science can collectively engage communities by encouraging transformative thinking and action.

Numerous digital games and media with historical themes aim to educate or engage audiences with heritage. When developing a historical video game, some of the most critical design decisions are centered around finding the balance between an accurate presentation of historical facts and engaging gameplay. This paper examines the game developer's role in selecting and presenting historical content through a case study of a mobile game development process. The design choices and developers' positions related to using historical facts are examined through thematic analysis of interview data and game design documents. Recurring themes in the data reveal a constant interplay between game features and historical content, supported by historical knowledge and technology. In small teams, individual developers often make crucial design decisions while performing multiple roles. As key findings, we report that the resourcing and timing of historical research significantly impacts developers' decisions, and note varying degrees of interest in historical accuracy within the development team.